Chapter 1790 - 921: Green Duckweed in the Wind_2

In the sewage networks of East City, pipes connected into a closed system had already extended beyond the city limits, leading straight to the sewage treatment plant outside the city!

Surveillance showed that at two o'clock in the afternoon, dozens of tanker trucks filled with chemical waste lined up and drove out of East City sewage treatment plant's gate, raising dust, setting off on a journey without a return date.

Likewise, they disappeared without a trace.

And in the sedimentation tanks of the wastewater plant, there remained about half a ton of fragmented liquid gold, along with hundreds of times more of foul-smelling rotting substances…

It's probably too rushed to carefully sift through, and too nauseous to care.

Forget it!

According to calculations, besides that, with proper recovery efforts, about ninety kilograms could still be found along the water pipes.

This is all they have left as a consolation prize.

It's not much, just take it home, forget the rest... No matter how the bank manager begs, Chou Zong doesn't care to look.

Besides, what difference does it make to look?

Can you make a flower out of it?

Considering the time, if things were done more efficiently, by now, those hundreds of tons of gold might already be in the Empire!

By then, if you claim that gold as yours and call to it, do you think it would respond?

"Puh!!"

In a confused and dazed state, following Yu Yinglong's lead, the bank manager spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing backward…

Today, at this moment, is he the only one spitting blood?

Countless shouting and lamenting retail investors in the stock market are not to mention, nor the bank executives acting like mourners, but the ones truly sweating and panicking are the local enterprises who have stored large amounts of funds or signed numerous loan agreements with East City Bank for their convenience…

This fire didn't just burn down East City Bank's headquarters; it also devoured countless numbers that existed only in books and expectations, and even futures that remain unfulfilled or already shattered.

Finance, after all, is merely a game of market confidence.

When confidence is abundant, it can flourish beautifully, but the moment everyone loses trust in you, even hundreds of billions can become insignificant foam.

All of East City, from top to bottom, whether it's the Governor or the financial practitioners below, everyone understands that the news of the bank robbery is just the first thunderous roar before the storm, and the real aftermath, which has yet to unfold, is leisurely on its way.

If the upcoming issues are mishandled, then what transpires next will truly be a disaster capable of shaking East City to its foundation…

The frenzy for withdrawals began just three seconds after the news aired, and the endless queues and cries on the streets are merely the smallest of all the troubles!

For any bank, savings operations are important but never the key.

As the nexus for capital flow and the guarantor of countless agreements, the bank can use its reserve funds and leverage to its advantage, engaging in one profitable financial venture after another on the volatile market.

Theoretically, such games can be played forever, with a future seemingly bright as the sun.

But unfortunately, theory doesn't mention what to do if the bank is robbed.

Thus, numerous anticipated and unexpected repercussions hit like a storm the moment trust crumbled.

If poorly controlled and circumstances worsen beyond recovery, it could be akin to a cataclysm for East City.

In decisive operations, after the noon market break, the East City Exchange did not reopen, declaring an early closure under a state of emergency, akin to emergency bandaging, cutting off major bloodlines for rescue, ignoring the myriad losses behind.

With news control from Central City, once the situation was temporarily contained, a life-saving stimulant was finally injected; East City's officials vouched for it, joining hands with four banks to inject funds into East City Bank, promising to honor checks and stabilize the withdrawal panic, barely bringing subsequent troubles under control.

The proviso being competitors or other Central City not taking advantage of the situation… who knows the extent of the cost for this.

All one can say is, it's East City after all.

A big family, a big business.

In the commercial area, apart from Yongji Bank, a global T5 institution, Federation Bank and Midtown Liantong, major Federation and Central City institutions, East City also boasts significant local capital such as East Merchant, National Wealth, and Republic.

Besides, although the bank's vault losses were severe, there are still funds on paper.

Four hundred ten tons of gold, over sixty billion Federation currency… No matter how terrifying that sounds, compared to the scale and assets of Federation and Four-direction City, it's really not much.

The commercial impact and subsequent losses from this alone exceed these numbers!

At this juncture, everyone steels themselves, bleeds, suffers pain, cuts losses, yet they can endure, cushion, and patch it all up.

Additionally, most of the lost gold wasn't theirs anyway!

By six o'clock that afternoon, while other Central City TV stations were still broadcasting analysis of the East City heist, East City TV had already announced measures.

Federation Insurance stepped in, declaring they would 'gradually compensate' for the bank's losses according to terms, as major banks extended a 'helping hand', pledging to assist East City Bank in weathering the storm, and so on.

The details of how these rescue agreements would be signed and repaid are another matter entirely.

Amidst the joyful atmosphere of the screen, patched up wounds receive coverage, myriad lingering issues and troubles seemingly trivial.

Within the announcement of many favorable news, people begin to believe that everything will pass, heading towards a bright new future…

Only those involved still feel the weight in their hearts, brace themselves, gritting their teeth and stomping, shutting their eyes, preparing for the upcoming waves and troubles.

"This was somewhat anticipated, after all, the position of East City Bank is too crucial, not to mention its inherent role and responsibilities, being long bound with Central City's economy, is essentially East City's purse, the lifeline for millions of public employees.

Now, with a problem arising, whether it's East City Hall, the governor's mansion, or local commercial capital, all will exert efforts to safeguard it.

By gritting teeth and tightening belts, this hurdle can eventually be overcome…"

In an empty warehouse in Wharf District, Ji Jue leaned against a shabby sofa, watching the flickering old TV in front, sighing with emotion:

"But, who exactly will remain stuck in that hurdle?"

No response.

Outside the warehouse in the dim setting sun, Han Hui stood cold and silent.

In the silence, only the shadow under his feet extended endlessly inward… like a wounded, mad snake, poised to strike!